Confucius Quotes
-
A country of a thousand war-chariots cannot be administered unless the ruler attends strictly to business, punctually observes his promises, is economical in expenditure, loves the people, and uses the labor of the peasantry only at the proper times of year.
-
To give oneself ernestly to securing righteousness and justice among the people, and while respecting the gods and demons, to keep aloof from them, that may be called wisdom.
-
The Man who says he can, and the man who says he can not.. Are both correct.
-
Labor, but slight not meditation; meditate, but slight not labor.
-
The inner nature of man is the province of Music.
-
A man should practice what he preaches, but a man should also preach what he practices.
-
He Who Knows And Knows That He Knows Is A Wise Man - Follow Him; He Who Knows Not And Knows Not That He Knows Not Is A Fool - Shun Him
-
The Master said, The case is like that of someone raising a mound. If he stops working, the fact that it perhaps needed only one more basketful makes no difference; I stay where I am. Whereas even if he has not got beyond leveling the ground, but is still at work, the fact that he has only tilted one basketful of earth makes no difference. I go to help him.
-
Learn as though you would never be able to master it; hold it as though you would be in fear of losing it.
-
The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.
-
Ask yourself constantly, "What is the right thing to do?" Behave toward everyone as if receiving a great guest.
-
The superior man... does not set his mind either for or against anything, he will pursue whatever is right. The superior man thinks of virtue, the common man of comfort.
-
The superior man will watch over himself when he is alone. He examines his heart that there may be nothing wrong there, and that he may have no cause of dissatisfaction with himself.
-
Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes.
-
Waste begets self-will; thrift begets meanness: but better be mean than self-willed.
-
The person who is not strong enough gives up at the halfway point - but you are limiting yourself before even starting.
-
There are cases in which the blade springs, but the plant does not go on to flower. There are cases where it flowers, but no fruit is subsequently produced.
-
By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.
-
The man of upright life is obeyed before he speaks.
-
Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.
-
Be aroused by poetry; structure yourself with propriety, refine yourself with music.
-
The superior man is anxious lest he should not get the truth; he is not anxious lest poverty should come upon him.
-
To acknowledge our faults when we are blamed, is modesty; to discover them to one's friends in ingenuousness, is confidence; but to preach them to all the world, if one does not take care, is pride.
-
The superior man does what is proper to the station in which he is; he does not desire to go beyond this.